The Lawmaking Process

Terms and Sessions 2 year period which follows elections

1/3 of the Senate and all of the House are elected every two years

Senate=6 year term House=2 year term

112th Congress Link

When and Where does Congress Meet?

Floor Action=time when members discuss and vote on bills

Senate Chamber

House Chamber

When and Where does Congress Meet?

Emergencies President may call Congress to a special

session if they are in recess Confirm appointments, ratify treaties

When and Where does Congress Meet?

Joint Session The Senate and House meet together Used for special occasions—not for

lawmaking State of the Union Address

Congressional Rules

1. Loyalty to one’s own chamber2. Respect3. Specialization4. Reciprocity

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Speaker of the House Presides over debates=determines

who can speak, how long to spend on each item, etc.

Influences committee assignments Speaker of House=John Boehner

House Majority Leader Strategist and party

spokesman Moves legislation

through the House Majority Leader=Eric

Cantor

House Minority Leader Organizes opposition to the majority

party Spokesman for minority party House Minority Leader=Nancy Pelosi

Party Whips Assistant floor leaders Find out, sway opinions of party

members Republican= Kevin McCarthey Democrat= Steny Hoyer

Senate Leaders President of the Senate President Pro Tempore Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader Senate Whips

President of the Senate Vice President always holds this

position Has little authority other than casting

the deciding vote in a tie President of the Senate=Joe Biden

President Pro Tempore Takes the place of the President of

the Senate in case of absence Signs legislation passed by Senate

President Pro Tempore=Daniel Inouye

Senate Majority Leader True leader of the Senate Develops a game plan for advancing

his/her party’s legislation Senate Majority Leader=Harry Reid

Senate Minority Leader Leads opposition to Majority Party Senate Minority Leader=Mitch

McConnell

Senate Whips Sways opinions, and also assistant

Senate Majority/Minority Leader Republican=John Kyl Democrat=Dick Durban

Library of Congress Largest library in the world (97

million books)

References Senate Chamber

http://www.politicalinformation.net/encyclopedia/Senate_in_session.jpg

House Chamber http://www.davidpride.com/USA/DC/images/Capitol_house.jpg

Leadership Positions www.house.gov www.senate.gov